This morning Ron and I said goodbye to Tupac as we helped him walk the rainbow bridge. The best figures are that he was at least 17 years old and in very bad health. He had humans who provided for him, then they lost him and went away without him. He was adopted by a couple who loved and provided for him but then the woman he loved died. He was again on the street homeless with massive health problems. At one point in his life he got hit by a golf cart. We know it was a golf cart because he has massive damage to his spine and ability of his intestine system to process food and poop and he is terrified of golf carts but not cars or trucks.
So Tupac was living outside when we first met him. He had a female companion, and they were fed by the surrounding neighbors. But as I was getting up at 3 and 4 am in the morning I would open the door to our east room that opened on the carport and feed them. The cat we named Tupac was so skinny despite how much he ate. In fact we had to put down two bowls because the bigger female would eat most of a single bowl leaving little for the small skinny cat.
So during the hurricane Ian James got Tupac in, he was used to coming in to homes while his companion had only recently started coming in to our east room after being bribed with food. But she was ferral and wouldn’t let us anywhere near her while Tupac would let us pet and make of him. After the hurricane Ron wanted to adopt him. Ron named him Tupac and the cat wanted a home. He came into our home we kept him in the east room until we had him checked out by our vet.
That was when we learned that he was clear of parricides and other communicable things, but he had a serious thyroid issue and if he did not get medication right away he would die soon. His thyroid was racing far too high and it would kill him. Ron wanted him and just looking at Ron’s face I had no hesitation. I asked the vet to prescribe the needed medication and we moved Tupac into our entire home full time.
He took to being an inside cat with outside privileges right away. He soon learned that he needed to be in at night, as soon as it got twilight. He loved the constant food and got very affectionate as he had his place on pillows in the center of the bed. He would get us up twice a night for food as he was sure he was hungry. But we soon learned the bad part of his bowel issues. He couldn’t move his poop out to his butt and when it got there he couldn’t exspell it. His poop was a square rock-hard thing you could step on that wouldn’t even squise under your foot. He was leaving poop smears everywhere he sat.
So another trip to the vet. The vet explained we would have to give him soft food and lots of powered fiber. We did that and with the thyroid medication we paid for him he flourished. He filled out a little but never much, he stayed thin and small. Over time we had to increase his thyroid medication. Everyone in the neighborhood understood and agreed he was now our cat and we were his humans.
Over the next few years he became incontinate and started leaking pee all the time. So we started covering everything with towels including our bed. Then it got worse. So we bought puppy pads and built a tower of towels and pads in the center of the bed. When I would wake up I would check them and try to remove the wet ones. He was happy. We were happy. He loved that I went to bed early and he came in to sleep with me and then when I got up early he would come to my office and get up on my desk and go to sleep while I posted. He would get upset when Ron got up and we started speaking with each other.
Over the last year we noticed he was getting thinner and weaker. Any touch on his lower back would cause his back legs to buckle. But this weekend things went bad fast. He started peeing with blood in it. He as always would try to get to his box but would leak constantly. On the towels he laid on or the floor he leaked bloody urine.
We already knew he had a tumor in his bladder because we had him checked twice a year by our wonderful vet clinic. But what we did not know was that recently the tumor grew fast taking over most of his bladder. It accounted for his incontance and his now peeing urine with blood.
This morning before the vet opened Ron called them and left a message. As soon as they opened the office they called back. Bring him in right away. Ron took him in while I waited at home. I still hoped even if it was bad we would have a few more months with him. It was not to be. Ron called me, Tupac had only days and those would be very painful for him. The tumor had taken over most of his bladder. Ron said the vet recommended for Tupac’s own good that we walk him across the rainbow bridge. Ron asked if he could bring him home, and the vet told him it would only be for a few days and Tupac’s pain would grow exponentially.
I asked Ron to ask them to wait until I got there. I have been with every furry friend since I was a teenager as they walked the rainbow bridge. I wanted to be there for Tupac. In the room they let us have some time with him and he rubbed on us and we gave him plenty of pets. In a way it seemed he was OK with what was to happen. They gave him the first injection, and we watched him fall asleep. Then they asked us if we wanted to stay which both did. The doctor gave Tupac the next injection and we touched and petted him as he went to the next place. I am an atheist but if I had a heaven it would be a place I would be joined by all the wonderful furry family members I have had to hold and touch as I eased their pain and helped them cross over.
All day today Ron and I have been talking about Tupac and things we would expect, like when we heard thunder outside we looked at each other and said better get Tupac in as he was terrified of thunder and boomies. I tried to pick up and do all I could to take care of his stuff because Ron was more emotional than I. We got it all done. We have two boxes of food we bought for him that we will give to a person we know with a cat who is on a very limited budget. I think Tupac would like that. When we got home I had to remind Ron that he had no more pain, he had no fears, no issues. Hugs
I’m sorry to hear of this loss.
May Tupac tread the rainbow bridge boldly.
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Hi MDavis. Yes that is how he lived and how I imagine he would walk the bridge. He was small, quick, hurt and damaged, but he also walked proudly even around the mocking birds that attacked him. He ignored their pecks. He loved snuggling up in my arm or grabbing my hand in his paws as we slept. He would bat Ron’s arm to get him to pet him at night in the bed. When he felt he was hungry he would cry out until one of us got up to feed him. It did not matter whether it was 2 am or 4 am; when his belly was hungry he would howl until one of us got up to put food down. It was normally me as Ron could sleep through the cats cries but I woke instantly and had to respond. I know I will miss him and hear him tonight or reflexively reach for him. It is Ron I worry about. He is trying hard to hide it but he really is upset by all this. He adopted Tupac, and he was his real daddy. So I will be very supportive to him tonight, Hugs
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Let Ron know how much Tupac will be missed. Then trot on down to a local cat shelter. Cats need good homes too. And two or more cats is better than one. Having them home alone when you are both away is cruel and unusual for them, even if they snarl at each other. They will generally like each other, as long as they both/all get the loving they all need. And when only 1 of you is home, you know you are never alone.
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Hi Rawgod. Sadly that is not to be. We have for 15 years adopted older cats who no one wanted. But Ron is 71 and in not great health, I am 63 and very disabled. Our social security income between us can barely keep our home and living. The fact is older cats like Tupac take a lot of income for veterinarian, food, and medication costs. We simply can not afford that now. As for a younger cat, we both worry what will happen to them when one or both of us pass away. So we decided we must give up our desire for the love of a fur family member to make sure we don’t leave that fur member in a bad spot if one or both of us die. Hugs
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My partner and I used to think that, until we rethought the whole thing. It will be very lonely if only one of us dies. The other one will need the cats to keep us company snd feeling loved.
But then, since we will inherit the house we are presently living in, we will not have money issues. We spend little, and we have no rent/mortgages payments anymore. That makes such a difference!
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Hi Scottie and Ron. I know you had a hard day. But, you are right in that you gave him the best life. So, yes, definitely going to miss the little guy, but you can feel good that you were there for him in every way possible.
Hugs and Loves;
-Randy
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Hi Randy. Brother I was going to text you but I remembered all you were dealing with at the plant and I just couldn’t do that to you. What you wrote is true, we gave him the best last years of his life he could have. We have done that for many furry family members we have had, it seems Ron and I felt that since no one wanted the older and possibly more sick animals, we would give them a home. We never lacked for love for or from any of them. Thank you brother. Hugs
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Hi Scottie. Yes, the flooding was just all sorts of fun. But, you are always welcome to call or text – I may not have a lot of time, but I will always make time for you.
I was thinking about losing Gracie. For a while, everything that I saw of hers absolutely hurt. But, as time went, I came to realize that she was there making things as good as possible for me. The loss was severe, but the recognition of how much she helped me through made me so very appreciative of her. Tupac, despite his struggles, gave his love to you both and helped you through lonely days and troubled nights. It’s hard to have a friend like that suddenly gone from our life, but wow! – what a great impact they have on our lives.
Text me tomorrow.
Hugs!!
-randy
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Oh, Scottie, my deep condolences to you and Ron both. I am all too familiar with that process.
Just remember that, while they all take a piece of our hearts with them…they always leave their entire hearts with us in exchange…
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Hi Bruce. Yes so true. Thank you. While I am wipeing my eyes I think you said it best. I have always believed that the love they give us while with us is worth the pain of the loss when they move on. Some one far smarter than me said “far better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all”. Hugs
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We lost our 19 year-old Queane in the Spring. Her name was Diabola. She died sleeping between my partner and I. We still have 4 cats who we share our home with. The red/orange male is now King. He is a good leader who washes the other 3 in the spots they can’t get to. I lost track of all the cats I shared a home with. It is so sad when they have to leave.
Our condolences to you and Ron.
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You didn’t tell me Diabola had died! Awwww … that makes me so sad.
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Awwwww, Scottie … this brought a tear to my eyes. I’m so sad and sorry for Tupac’s death, but thank you for sharing his story with us. We’ve gone through this with our menagerie more times than I can count over the years, but it never gets any easier. Hugs ‘n love to you and Ron
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Hi Jill. It hurts when we lose a furry family member but the love they share with us makes the pain at the end worth it. I envy you having younger people in the house to carry on caring for them when you can’t. For us Ron, and I we realize we are getting too old and older cats take on extra large vet bills to both care for a furry family member nor pay for their care. Tupac needed medications to survive, he needed special care; he was incontinent, which left us washing towels that we had covering everything nearly daily. He couldn’t help peeing on the floor or place he was laying even as he would race to the boxes leaving a trail. Due to the damage to his spine and rear end, he had trouble with pooping and needed fiber and couldn’t control when a poop would pop out. So he was expensive for us, but we did not care due to the love we had for him and him for us. But we can not do it anymore. He was the only one that Ron wanted to stay with as he walked the rainbow bridge. I miss him lying against me at night or wrapping his paws around my hand as we slept. The first few days when I heard thunder or it looked like rain I would think I needed to get him inside if he was out. But as I said Ron and I realize that we can’t do it anymore, we can’t take the risk that they would be homeless if something happened to us. Hugs
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You’re so right, Scottie. I’ve heard people say, after losing a beloved pet, that they were never going to have another, that it hurt too much. I’m the opposite … yes, it hurts, but I always remember the love, the joy, and I open my home and heart to more! That’s why at one time we had ten kitties! We’re down to three now, and they are all getting up in years, so I’m dreading what’s to come, but I wouldn’t change a thing! But I do understand what you’re saying about no longer being able to do it … and that’s sad, my dear friend. Love ‘n hugs 💖
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